Chapter 1

The wealthy woman grabbed me and wouldn't let me go, demanding I return her bag. But the bag was a fake. Melvin Quayle had switched it with mine.

Where had he gotten it? Had he actually stolen the real one?

I called the police, determined to prove I was innocent.

She hesitated, then suddenly lunged for the bag in my hands. "Just give it back. We don't need to get the police involved!"

That was when Jenny Jacobson stepped in.

"Willow, if you did take it, just give it back and apologize. Don't make this any worse." She turned to the kids. "Remember, always do the right thing. Never take what isn't yours."

The police came rushing over.

I grabbed Jenny's wrist and pulled her toward them. "I don't know how she ended up with my bag. Please, you have to check this out."

Moments later, Melvin rushed in and slapped me the second he saw me. "Didn't I tell you I gave your bag to Jen? What the hell were you thinking, calling the police? Are you trying to humiliate her on purpose?"

I kicked him with all my strength. He doubled over with a howl, clutching himself in agony.

"You took my bag, worth hundreds of thousands, behind my back. That's theft! And now this woman has the nerve to say I stole hers? Now suddenly I'm the thief? No way in hell I'm taking the blame for this!"

Seeing things spiral out of control, the wealthy woman panicked and dropped the act.

She jabbed a finger at Jenny. "Ms. Jacobson made me do it! She promised favors for my daughter if I accused Willow of stealing. I recorded everything she said!"

Jenny went pale, her eyelids fluttering. "This is just a misunderstanding, Willow. I was putting on a little skit for the kids about theft. I didn't get a chance to explain before you called the police."

I shot her a cold glare. "Skit or not, let the police handle it."

She was about to respond, but the officer cut her off. "Ma'am, please cooperate. We'll review the footage and any relevant evidence."

Melvin yanked me aside. "Enough. You're making a scene. I'll deal with the bag once we're home. Do you really want to ruin Jen's future? She's not like you. You're strong enough to take the hit if things go wrong. She's just starting out. Just apologize to the police and say it was all a misunderstanding."

I could only stare at him in disbelief. "She got some parent to accuse me of stealing—just to humiliate me. And now I'm supposed to call it a mistake? My bag went missing and somehow ended up with her. Was I really wrong to call the police?"

Nearby, Jenny sniffled, her face streaked with tears. "Willow, I never meant to."

Melvin threw up his hands. "Fine! I took your bag! Go ahead, have them arrest me! But Willow, we're husband and wife. What's yours is mine too!"

I kept my voice even. "We didn't even register our marriage. So what exactly is there to call yours?"

Just then, our son, Finn Quayle, came running over. As soon as he saw me, his face fell. "Mom? What are you doing here?"

Without even looking at me again, he grabbed Jenny's hand. "Ms. Jacobson, can we go home? Read me a story. I don't want to talk to Mom."

Watching him cling to Jenny like that, I felt a hollow numbness settled in my chest.

Five years ago, I'd been certain Melvin was my soulmate—so certain I had his child without ever getting married. But in the end, all I'd brought into the world was an ungrateful brat.

Melvin grew desperate. "Willow, you're not seriously sending me to jail over a bag, are you? Fine, you win. I'll marry you tomorrow. Happy now?"

A bitter laugh escaped me. "Too late for that. You've always put Jenny first and brushed off how I felt. If I hadn't given birth to Finn myself, I'd swear you two tricked me into babysitting your affair baby."

I turned to the officers. "Take him away."